Apparatus for transporting and storing heavy commodities

Abstract

A production line wherein extremely heavy and bulky commodities, such as metallic bands which are convoluted on reels and weigh up to and in excess of 20,000 lbs., are treated at several stations is provided with a first magazine at the receiving end, a second magazine at the discharge end and an intermediate magazine between two neighboring departments. The commodities are transported in the magazines by vehicles which are movable lengthwise as well as up and down to store the commodities at different levels or to withdraw commodities from selected compartments of the respective magazines. Additional vehicles in the form of cars, lifters, cranes or the like are provided to transport commodities from a preceding magazine, to stations which are adjacent to various machines of the production line, and from such machines to the next magazine, always at a level above or below the level of the production line. The production line may be set up to anneal the commodities which are withdrawn from the first magazine prior to introduction into the first magazine, to thereupon roll the commodities in one or more passes, to trim the commodities, to subdivide the commodities, and to heat the commodities prior to storage in the second magazine from which the commodities are withdrawn for transport to inspecting, packing and/or other stations.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended: 
     
       1. Apparatus for manipulating heavy commodities, especially convoluted band stock or the like in a plant wherein said commodities are treated at several stations of at least one production line having a receiving end and a discharge end and being located at a first level, comprising first and second magazines respectively provided at the receiving and discharge ends of the production line; a floor located at said first level on which said several stations are located along a line spaced from each other, said floor being provided with openings between stations; a tunnel located below said floor at a second level different from said first level, said tunnel being vertically aligned with said line; a plurality of transporting devices to transport the commodities between said magazines and to and from said stations with said transporting devices and said commodities thereon as they are transported between said stations arranged in said tunnel at said second level different from said first level; and means on each of said transporting devices for transferring the commodities thereon from said second to said first level, whereby said transferring means may be used to lift said commodities from said transporting devices through said openings to said first level. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said magazines is an upright magazine having means for the storage of commodities at a plurality of different levels. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said transporting devices include a vehicle mounted in said first magazine for movement between said plurality of different levels and for movement along a substantially horizontal path between first and second end positions in said first magazine, and a conveyance arranged to supply commodities to said vehicle when the latter assumes one of said end positions. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said transporting devices and said transferring means thereon comprise lift and transfer cars travelling through said tunnel and constructed to lift the commodities from said tunnel through said openings to said first level.